DTStudy: Striptease Songs

Subject: DTStudy: Strip Polka (Johnny Mercer)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 02:45 PM

This is an edited DTStudy thread, and all messages posted here are subject to editing and deletion.
This thread is intended to serve as a forum for corrections and annotations for the Digital Tradition song named in the title of this thread.

---

Search for other DTStudy threads

---

I think it's time for us to do a study of the songs about burlesque and striptease.

In Jon Boden's "A Folk Song a Day" project, the song for February 8 is something he calls "Queenie,". He describes "Queenie" as "A peculiar music-hall number only sung at FSCs as far as I know." (what are FSCs??)

Well, the lyrics are a bit different, but it sure sounds to me like "Strip Polka," written by Johnny Mercer in 1942 and popularized by the Andrews Sisters. Here are the lyrics from the Digital Tradition, which I think need a little correction:

STRIP POLKA (DT Version)
(Johnny Mercer)

There's a burlesque theater where the boys like to go
To see Queenie, the cutie of the burlesque show
And the thrill of the evening is when out Queenie trips
And the band plays the polka while she strips.

cho 1: "Take it off! Take it off!"
All the customers shout,
"Down in front! Down in front!"
While the band beats it out;
But she's always a lady, even in pantomime
And she stops...and always just in time.

She's as fresh and as wholesome as the flowers of May
And she hopes to retire to a farm some day,
But you can't buy a farm unless you're up in the chips
So the band plays the polka while she strips.

Queenie, some day you'll fall.
Some day, wedding bells will chime
In strip polka time.

Well, she hates corny waltzes and she hates the gavotte
But the greatest advantage when the music's hot:
There's a fast-moving exit in case something r-r-rips
So the band plays the polka while she strips.

cho 2: "Take it off! Take it off!"
Cries a voice from the rear,
"Take it off! Take it off!"
Soon that's all you can hear;
But she's always a lady, even in pantomime
And she stops...and always just in time.

Note: popular circa 1940-41. Andrews Sisters, I think. RG
@dance
filename[ STRPOLKA
TUNE FILE: STRPOLKA
CLICK TO PLAY
RG

Subject: DTCorrection: Strip Polka (Johnny Mercer)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 03:40 PM

Here are the lyrics from Johnny Mercer: The Life, Times and Song Lyrics of Our Huckleberry Friend, by Bob Bach and Ginger Mercer (Lyle Stuart, Inc., 1982), page 105.

STRIP POLKA
(Johnny Mercer)

There's a burlesque theater where the gang loves to go
To see Queenie, the cutie of the burlesque show
And the thrill of the evening is when out Queenie skips
And the band plays the polka while she strips.

    CHORUS 1:
    "Take it off! Take it off!"
    Cries a voice from the rear,
    "Take it off! Take it off!"
    Soon it's all you can hear;
    But she's always a lady, even in pantomime,
    So she stops!
And always just in time.

She's as fresh and as wholesome as the flowers in May,
And she hopes to retire to the farm some day;
But you can't buy a farm until you're up in the chips,
So the band plays the polka while she strips!

    CHORUS 2:
    "Take it off! Take it off!"
    All the customers shout,
    "Down in front! Down in front!"
    While the band beats it out;
    But she's always a lady, even in pantomime,
    So she stops!
And always just in time.

    Queenie, Queen of them all.
    Queenie, some day you'll fall.
    Some day, churchbells will chime
    In Strip Polka time.

Oh! She hates corny waltzes and she hates the gavotte,
And there's one big advantage if the music's hot:
It's a fast-moving exit just in case something r-r-rips,
So the band plays the polka while she strips!

CHORUS 3:
    Drop around, take it in,
    It's the best in the west,
    "Take it off! Take it off!"
    You can yell like the rest;
    Take her out when it's over,
    She's a peach when she's dressed,
    But she stops!
And always just in time.

    Queenie, Queen of them all.
    Queenie, some day you'll fall.
    Some day, churchbells will chime
    In Strip Polka time.

It's the polka time,
Churchbells will chime,
It's the polka time.


Words and music by Johnny Mercer, 1942. Popularized by the Andrews Sisters, but also recorded by Mercer himself and by many others.
@dance
filename[ STRPOLKA
TUNE FILE: STRPOLKA
CLICK TO PLAY
RG

---

On the Mercer recording, there's a spoken introduction that I've never been able to understand. Mercer starts by singing, "This is the Strip Polka"; and then another voice answers (spoken), "I adore...[unintelligible]." Then there's an instrumental part. After that, a voice announces, "Say, let's listen and have some fun, to the gay lyrics of Handsome Harry [unintelligible - Bruno Bum??]. I don't know who the other singers are the Mercer recording - there are women's and men's voices. Whatever the case, it's a great recording - and it's Mercer's clever humor at its best.

Subject: ADD Version: Queenie (Jon Boden's 'Strip Polka')
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 04:03 PM

Here's my transcription of what Jon Boden sings on A Folk Song a Day. I have to believe this is the Mercer song, and that Mercer's song does not come form older roots. I'm going to need help on this because there are parts I don't understand - please post your corrections below and I'll add them here.

QUEENIE (STRIP POLKA)
(Johnny Mercer)

There's a low-down [tavern???] where the boys all go
To see Queenie, the star of the burlesque show
And the highlight of the evening is when on the stage she trips
And the band plays the polka while she strips.

    CHORUS
    "Take 'em off! Take 'em off!"
    Cry the boys at the back;
    "Take 'em off! Take 'em off!
    Be your natural self."
    But Queenie is a lady, and it's only pantomime,
    So she stops!
But only just in time.

There's another side of Queenie that the boys don't see,
She dreams of a cottage, surrounded by trees;
But the payment of the mortgage takes an awful lot of chips,
So the band plays the polka while she strips!

    CHORUS
    "Take 'em off! Take 'em off!"
    Cry the boys at the back;
    "Take 'em off! Take 'em off!
    Be your natural self."
    But Queenie is a lady, and it's only pantomime,
    So she stops!
But only just in time.

    Some day, Queenie will fall;
    Queenie, pride of them all.
    Some day, church bells will chime
    But only just in time.

Words and music by Johnny Mercer, 1942 - adapted by Jon Boden.

Subject: ADD: Zip! (Rodgers & Hart)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 04:04 PM

Here's another classic from the same era. Are there others?

Thread #5259   Message #30118
Posted By: Joe Offer
05-Jun-98 - 06:05 AM
Thread Name: Tech: Digital Tradition in Windows
Subject: Lyr Add: ZIP (Rodgers & Hart)

Dick, I think this is the song you were thinking of:

ZIP
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Music by Richard Rodgers
from the 1940 musical "Pal Joey"

Verse
I've interviewed Leslie Howard.
I've interviewed Noel Coward.
I've interviewed the great Stravinsky.
But my greatest achievement
Is the interview I had
With a star who worked for Minsky.
I met her at the Yankee Clipper
And she didn't unzip one zipper.
I said, "Miss Lee, you are such an artist.
Tell me why you never miss.
What do you think of while you work?"
And she said, "While I work
My thoughts go something like this."

Refrain 1
Zip! Walter Lippman wasn't brilliant today.
Zip! Will Saroyan ever write a great play?
Zip! I was reading Schopenhauer last night.
Zip! And I think that Schopenhauer was right.
I don't want to see Zorina.
I don't want to meet Cobina.
Zip! I'm an intellectual.
I don't like a deep contralto,
Or a man whose voice is alto.
Zip! I'm a heterosexual.
Zip! It took intellect to master my art.
Zip! Who the hell is Margie Hart?

Refrain 2
Zip! I consider Dali's paintings passé.
Zip! Can they make the Metropolitan pay?
Zip! English people don't say clerk, they say clark.
Zip! Anybody who says clark is a jark!
I have read the great Kabala
And I simply worship Allah.
Zip! I am just a mystic.
I don't care for Whistler's Mother,
Charlie's Aunt or Schubert's brother.
Zip! I'm misogynistic.
Zip! My intelligence is guiding my hand.
Zip! Who the hell is Sally Rand?

Refrain 3
Zip! Toscanini leads the greatest of bands.
Zip! Jergen's Lotion does the trick for his hands.
Zip! Rip Van Winkle on the screen would be smart.
Zip! Tyrone Power would be cast in the part.
I adore the great Confucius
And the lines of luscious Lucius.
Zip! I am so eclectic.
I don't care for either Mickey –
Mouse or Rooney make me sicky!
Zip! I'm a little hectic.
Zip! My artistic taste is classic and dear.
Zip! Who the hell's Lili St. Cyr?

Alternate verses include:
I've interviewed Pablo Picasso/and a countess named di Frasso
Hearing rhumba bands will drive me to drink/Mrs Perkins isn't red, she's just pink.
That Stokowski leads the greatest of bands.
My artistic taste is classic and choice/Who the hell's Rosita Royce?

I would like to add that I'm not old enough to understand all of the names in this song.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 04:11 PM

"Strip Polka" on cd "Johnny Mercer, Collectors Series; 20 tracks, Strip Polka track 1; also downloads possible, sample. About $10.50.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 04:44 PM

Other songs that mention striptease are In the Old Bazaar in Cairo and The Wild Caribee, by Jerry O'Neill.

Oh, and to be fair to Miccas, I suppose we should add The Roman Gladiator, written by Bruce Campbell in about 1940. I'll bet most of us thought Micca wrote it.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: Young Buchan
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 04:52 PM

This old hat that I've got on, the crown of it is gone,
The brim it is all come asunder.
If I only had one more, if I only had a score,
I would keep this old hat to remember.

CHO All through the grog, the jolly, jolly grog,
All through the beer and tobacco.
I've spent all my tin with a lassie drinking gin.
And across the briney ocean I must wander.

This old boot that I've got on, the sole of it is gone,
The tongue it is all come asunder…

This old coat that I've got on, the sleeve of it is gone,
The pockets are all come asunder…

This old shirt that I've got on, the tail of it is gone,
The collar is all come asunder…

These old breeches I've got on, the crutch of it is gone,
The arse it is all come asunder…

The connection? Apparently in male only environments (army barracks, some pubs) it was the practice to sing this and remove each article as it was mentioned. Also, I believe, in some places, to dip the article in a pint of beer, which had to be drunk off at the end.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 05:09 PM

'Big Spender' has become the Hollywood Cliche Strip Number.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 05:12 PM

Well gee whiz! What's this thread without a link to Strip Cheez? And a Sally Rand Tribute?
http://www.stripcheez.com/video/sally-rand-tribute

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 05:47 PM

The Quine Fa Does the Strip at Inverurie

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 06:30 PM

welcome to the Folk Process. It doesn't always make for improvements, though.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: BrooklynJay
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 06:45 PM

I would like to add that I'm not old enough to understand all of the names in this song.
-Joe Offer-

The "Miss Lee" would be Gypsy Rose Lee. Rosita Royce, Zorina, Lili St. Cyr, Margie Hart, Sally Rand were all strippers (or, ahem, ecdysiasts) well known in 1940 when "Pal Joey" first premiered on Broadway.

I'm assuming those are the names you meant. ; - )

Jay

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 06:49 PM

Poor little Joe. Missed some of the greats.

(I was 17)

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 06:56 PM

...I could say I was merely a glint in my father's eye, but even that wouldn't be true. You make me feel young, Q.

-Joe, born in 1948-

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: terrier
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 07:55 PM

I remember Clinton Ford singing this a number of times on TV when I was a youngster (born '48 as well) but dates back to the days of George formby:

Fanlight Fanny

'Up the west end , that's the best end, where the nightclubs thrive,
Down into a dive you go
There's a jazz queen, she's a has-been, has been lord knows what
Every night she's there on show.
She dances underneath a magic spell
She's full of charm and beer and stouit as well.

She's 66 but looks sixteen,
Her friends don't know her now her face is clean
Fanlight Fanny the frowsy night club queen
See her glide around the floor, then glide around into the pub next door.
Fanlight Fanny the frowsy nightclub queen.

She looks well in the lime, a queen all the time, you get your money's worth
By day, you'd say, "it's her second time on earth".
She waltzes in the west end shops, then waltzes out between two cops.
Fannlight Fanny the frowsy nightclub queen.

She's a peach but understand,
She's called a peach because she's always canned
Fanlight Fanny the frowsy nightclub queen.

When she's dressed she's like Mae West,
She wears two saucepan lids upon her chest.
Fanlight Fanny the frowsy nightclub queen.

She looks well in the Lime, a queen all the time, you get your money's worth.
By day you'll say "it's her second time on earth".

Every morning at the break of day,
They call for the empties and cart away
Fanlight Fanny the frowsy nightclub queen.'

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: GUEST,The Awkward Recruit
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 08:13 AM

Joe - FSC are Forest School Camps, which Jon attended as a lad.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: paula t
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 01:45 PM

Chris de Burgh's "Patricia the stripper" always makes me smile

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: GUEST,in for a penny
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 02:33 PM

The great Scotish song....

THE QUINE WHO DOES THE STRIP AT INVERURIE

Oh I'm nae Brigitte (pron the "te") Bardot and I'm nae Sophia Loren
Miss United Kingdom, oh no, ye're wrang again,
And I'm nae Prince Charles's girlfriend or even Miss Grampienne
I'm the quine that dis the srip at Inverurie.

Oh I used to operate a loom at Richards' factory
I liked it fine enough, b'it jist wisnae right for me
Wi' ma figure and ma looks and ma personality
I was born tae dee the strip at Inverurie.

I ta'en a busfare tae the Castlegate one day to see the sights
A mannie says, "Hey darling, would you like to hit the heights?"
"Oh ye're wasted in a factory, I can pit yer name in lights"
So I signed tae dee the strip at Inverurie.

Oh I met a fermer at a dance, he asked to see me hame,
He started getting funny when he got me up a lane,
I says, "Fa (who) d'ye think I am, I'm nae jist onyb'dy ye ken,
(Posh voice!) "I'm the quine that does the strip at Inverurie".

Oh I met a Texas millionnaire, he swept me aff my feet,
He gave me furs and diamonds, and a shop in Union Street,
Oh he wanted me tae merry'im, but I found I couldnae dee't
Cos I would mess (miss) the fun I hae in Inverurie.

Oh they phoned me up fae Grampian (pron Grumpiun), they said "We'll do a deal,
Yer fee'll be a fiver, and a lovely canteen meal,
Tho' I couldnae spake fer laughing, I said, "Hame and da' be feel,
I strip for eighty pounds at Inverurie.

Oh I think I'll still be at it even when I'm old and grey
I winna give up stripping till they carry me away,
When I reach the pearly gates at last I'll be really proud to say,
"I'm the quine that did the strip at Inverurie."

Subject: Lyr. Add: Patricia the Stripper
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 06:00 PM

Paula, DeBurgh's song deserves to be posted.


Lyr. Add: Patricia the Stripper
Chris DeBurgh

Dennis is a menace
With his "Anyone for tennis?"
And he'd beseech me to come keep the score
And Maude said, "Oh, Lord, I'm so terribly bored,"
I really can't stand it anymore...

I'm going out- out to dinner
With a gorgeous singer
To a little place I found
Down by the quay.
Her name is Patricia
She calls herself Delicia
And the reason isn't
Very hard to see.

She said, God made her a sinner
Just to keep fat men thinner
As they tumble down in heaps
Before her feet.
They hang around in groups
Like battle-weary troops
One can often see them
Queue right down the street.

You see, Patricia or Delicia
Not only is a singer
She also removes all her clothing-
For Patricia is the best stripper in town.

And with a swing of her hips
She started to strip;
To tremendous applause
She took off her drawers
And with a lick of her lips
She undid al her clips
And threw it all in the air
As everybody stared.

And as the last piece of clothing
Fell to the floor
The police were banging on the door
On a Saturday night in nineteen twenty-four.
Take it away, boys...

When Patricia was arrested
Everyone detested
The terrible manner in which
She was exposed.
Later on in court
Where everyone thought
A summer run in jail
Would be proposed...

But the Judge said, "Patricia
Or may I say Delicia
The facts of this case lie before me
(knock, knock, knock)
Case dismissed...
The girl was in her working clothes."

And with a swing of her hips
She started to strp
To tremendous applause
She took off her drawers
And with a lick of her lips
She undid all of her clips
Threw it all in the air
And everybody stared

And as the last piece of clothing
Fell to the floor
The police were yelling out for more (more)
On a Saturday night in nineteen twenty-four
On a Saturday night in nineteen twenty-four.

www.lyricsdepot.com and others. Corrections?

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 10 Feb 11 - 03:25 PM

Am I right that The Quine Who Does The Strip should be sung to the tune of The Man Who Broke The Bank At Monte Carlo?

~M~

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 10 Feb 11 - 03:29 PM

How flown is the time,
'Tis a quarter past nine.
I think it is bedtime, don't you.
She rose from the chair,
Taking off her false hair.
Her white pearly teeth came out too.
One leg made of wood,
One eye was a dud.
Her nose she began to unscrew.
"OH" I cried with dismay,
As her bust fell away.
Am I wasting my time on you???

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: fat B****rd
Date: 10 Feb 11 - 03:30 PM

'Little Egypt'

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Feb 11 - 03:59 PM

There are several "Little Egypt" song credits; the one sung by Elvis Pressley was:
BMI Work # 879339, writers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, publisher Sony/ATV Songs LLC.
First sung by the Coasters, 1962.

"Little Egypt," Farida Spyropoulos, of the 1893 Egyptian Theatre at the World's Fair in Chicago, performed a belly dance, which the press called "hoochie-coochee." Several followers.

Spyropoulos also performed, age 62, at the Chicago fair in 1933.

Don't know the music she performed to, but probably middle eastern of some kind.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 11 Feb 11 - 04:36 AM

Side by side

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Striptease Songs
From: GUEST,Beck Laxton
Date: 17 Sep 19 - 09:13 AM

An answer on an old thread: FSCs are Forest School Camps. See https://www.fsc.org.uk/about.htm

My son has just started going, that they are brilliant - they seem to have a very strong tradition of campfire singing and my stepkids have learned loads of songs, some of which I'd never heard before.